The Family Help Center is a nonprofit organization that provides support to parents through a 24-hour helpline and crisis intervention programs. The letter recommends David Perfette for admission to Boston University's Master's program in Social Work. It details David's 10 years of volunteer work at the Family Help Center, where he has mentored at-risk youth, taught after school programs, and answered calls on the parent helpline. The letter highlights David's strong intellectual abilities, communication skills, dedication to helping others, and potential to improve as a social worker with further development of his writing skills.

1. PROVIDING FREE SUPPORT, 24 HOURS A DAY WHEN PARENTING GETS TOUGH
A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1973 BY JOAN A. MALE
DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
60 Dingens Street
Buffalo, NY 14206
716.822.0919
716.822.5098
FamilyHelpCenter.net
Deborah A. Merrifield
Executive Director
May 21, 2015
Boston University
Office of Graduate Admissions
School of Social Work
851 Trafalgar Court, Ste. 420
Maitland, FL 32751
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter in support of David Perfette’s application to Boston University's Master's
Program in Social Work. David has been an active volunteer with our nonprofit agency since March
of 2005. As his Volunteer Coordinator and supervisor, I have had a great deal of interaction with
David and have gotten to know him well. David is a very intelligent and caring person who has been
a tremendous asset to our organization over the past ten years.
David has an unusually broad skill set which enables him to be of service in many ways. In addition
to his exceptional ability to understand things deeply, David is an open-minded, innovative and
creative outside-of-the-box thinker. David is also effective at communicating his thoughts in ways
that are helpful and easily understood by adults and children of all backgrounds. Our social workers
have commented on how easily David works with everyone, including children. David’s idealism
and commitment to helping others is deep-seeded and strong.
Among other activities, David has volunteered with our 24-hour Help Line to answer crisis calls from
parents who are unable to cope. He showed a keen ability to empathize, quickly analyze the caller's
needs, and provide the appropriate assistance. David also volunteered twice a week teaching
children during the “Homework Club” at one of our school programs. The Coordinator of that
program described David as “very committed, enthusiastic, and intelligent” in his work with the
students.
From 2007 through 2012, David mentored Andrew, one of our teenage clients whose home life
posed many challenges. Andrew was believed to be intellectually challenged. David, however, was
quick to discover that Andrew was very bright indeed. David was an incredible role model for this
young man, and opened Andrew’s eyes to the opportunities available to him. David’s intellectual
curiosity and effort facilitated Andrew’s educational development, and as a result Andrew attended a
competitive 4-year college rather than the local community college.
The Family Help Center (formerly the Joan A. Male Family Support Center) is a nonprofit United
Way agency dedicated to the prevention and interruption of child abuse and neglect. For over 40
years, we have provided the only 24-hour Parent Help-Line in Erie County, as well as an In-Home
Crisis Intervention Program, to help families in crisis. Our staff includes more than 70 social workers

2. and day care providers who work one-to-one with these children through home visits and other
means, often on a daily basis. Our services are offered free of charge. Volunteers have always
played an integral part in providing services to our clients, as the agency was originally an all-
volunteer group. Currently, we have approximately 300 volunteers who donate time in an
organizational, direct service, or fundraising capacity each year. David Perfette is one of our most
active volunteers in terms of his commitment to helping our children on a regular basis.
David is currently tutoring our at-risk youth, and he has done countless other projects for us - from
teaching computers to our Day Care children to helping out with our informational events, as well as
volunteering for all of the fundraising activities that we have. David communicates very well with the
children in a non-threatening manner while being knowledgeable, caring and understanding of their
needs. He has gone out of his way to rearrange his schedule in order to help these youngsters.
Regarding an area where David could improve: David has many strong intellectual abilities;
however, his ability to demonstrate these abilities is slightly limited by his writing. The content of his
writing is excellent, but his sentence structure and punctuation do not always meet this standard. I
believe that if he were to fully develop his writing skills he would be able to take full advantage of his
many intellectual strengths and be an even better graduate student and social worker.
When I first interviewed David, he mentioned that he is an idealist. I believe that he is truly
dedicated to the cause of improving the lives of others, and that is why he is motivated to make the
transition from the business arena to Social Work. I think that David’s skills and background will
enable him to see the “big picture” in a way that is particularly crucial in these times of increased
needs and diminishing funding.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like any additional information on this outstanding
volunteer.
Sincerely,
Holly Hahn-Baker
Volunteer Coordinator